Metr. Barlaam was noted as austere and one who did not try to win favor by flattering influential people, particularly Basil III. Although the non-possessors had been suppressed early in the sixteenth century, Metr. Barlaam maintained his agreement with their principles of opposing ecclesiastical land-ownership and supported those who were like thinking such as with Maximus the Greek, a non-possessor sympathizer, who had been invited to Russia to translate Greek liturgical books.

In 1515, Metr. Barlaam consecrated the main church of the Khutyn Monastery outside the city of Novgorod. Later that year he also consecrated the Tikhvin Monastery that also in the Eparchy of Novgorod. The Novgorodian see had been vacant since 1509.

On December 17, 1521, Metr. Barlaam was deposed as metropolitan of Moscow by Basil III. His removal was precipitated by his refusing to participate in Basil III's fight against Prince Basil Ivanovich Shemyachich and the dispute with the Grand Prince over his refusal to allow Basil to divorce his wife for a remarriage. Metr. Barlaam was initially confined in shackles in the Kyrilo-Beloozersky Monastery north of Moscow, but was soon transferred to the Spaso-Kamenyi Monastery in Vologda where he died sometime in 1522.[1]